Consumer complaints about rotten food at the Reliance Smart Superstore in Wanaparthy led to a municipal raid on Friday. Officials inspected the store and found spoiled food items, prompting immediate action.
Municipal authorities, including District Food Safety Officer Neelima and Medical Health Officer Ramachander, conducted the inspection after receiving reports from customers. They discovered food items in poor condition. However, store managers insisted that the products were still within their expiry dates and dismissed the concerns.
This response angered the officials, who criticized the store’s management for negligence. They raised concerns about the potential health risks, especially for children, if consumers unknowingly purchased and ate spoiled food. The food safety team decided to collect samples for laboratory testing and warned that legal action would be taken based on the results. Meanwhile, the store was temporarily shut down.
The incident has sparked public outrage, with many blaming food safety officers for not doing their jobs properly. Residents allege that some officials accept bribes to ignore violations, allowing unsafe food to be sold in malls and hotels. Frustrated citizens also claim that their complaints often go unheard because officers are rarely available in their offices and do not respond to phone calls.
Concerns have also been raised about the transparency of food safety inspections. Many people suspect that food samples collected from various places are not being tested, and officials are hesitant to take action against violators. Critics argue that weak enforcement has led to a general disregard for food safety regulations in the district.
Residents are now calling for higher authorities to step in and take strict action against negligent officials. They demand stronger enforcement to ensure food safety standards are upheld.
